Study Abroad in Spain - The best experience of my life Past Review
By Isidro D (Trinity University) - abroad from 08/24/2016 to 12/17/2017 with
CIEE: Madrid - Liberal Arts
I learned a lot about how I like to live. Also, the type of city in which I want to work and start my life in. It was extremely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was a good combination of academic challenge and enough time for us to enjoy our study abroad semester. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were always willing to help us and trying to get in contact with us if we were comfortable with everything. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I hated my roommates, we were not compatible at all and I did not like going to my apartment, even though the physical structure was newly renovated and comfortable. |
| * Food: |
I wasn't provided food by the program but Madrid's food was incredible. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program was always telling us about activities and events where we could meet new people that were enjoyable as well. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I wasn't sick during my semester but I did see how the program helped others with detailed instructions of what to do and how to proceed when they were sick. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt some sort of danger during my entire semester. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I didn't know how helpful a program can be. Plus, comparing it to the experiences other students had, our program was definitely the best one in the city. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
It was kind of hard since food wasn't provided to us, which was the most expensive thing. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around 100-150. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go to home-stays and not apartments, the cost is the same but the food is really expensive. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I am a spanish speaker but it did encourage people to learn the language. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish is my first language. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Try to have more than basic knowledge prior to the semester, it will make your stay much more enjoyable. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The living habits of my roommates. |
